9-11 services set across the area

OREGON COUNTY - Several memorials and services are planned across Oregon County in observance of Sept. 11, 2001.

The Thayer/Mammoth Spring Ministerial Alliance will hold a 9-11 community memorial service Sept. 11 at the Thayer First Baptist Church at 7 p.m.

This special service is to honor all the emergency personnel in the area. A special offering will be taken and given to the local help group Hands of Hope.

Patriotic music will be performed by the First Baptist Church Choir and special recognition of firefighters, police, troopers, paramedics and other emergency personnel from the area. Everyone is invited to attend and pay tribute to all the American heroes in the area.

The Ozark Radio Network, which owns and operates K-Kountry 95, at Thayer is asking residents of the Oregon County/Mammoth Spring area to go to a participating business in the area and get a free red, white and blue ribbon to wear Sept. 11. They have titled their campaign "Never Forget." Local businesses where ribbons are include: Palace Drug, Mammoth Spring; Martin Salvage Grocery and Old Time Flea Market, Thayer; Alton Florists, Alton; and Chapel Hill Florist, Thayer.

According to K-95 Music Director Keith Michaels, "We are doing this to remember the lives that were lost and the price that was paid Sept. 11. We are asking all businesses and residents in the area to decorate their store windows and yards in red, white and blue and to "Never Forget."

The Oregon County Commission along with other offices in the courthouse at Alton are planning a 9-11 memorial service. Oregon County Presiding Commissioner Leo Warren said although plans for the service are not complete at this time they are looking at the service being held possibly at 3 or 4 p.m. the afternoon of Sept. 11. Warren said plans are to ask music students from Alton School to participate by providing patriotic music. He said the local VFW and the Ministerial Alliance will also be invited to participate and everyone in the area is invited.

Thayer High School Principal Kevin Hedden said Thayer High School and junior high students will be participating in a memorial assembly at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 11. The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by selected students and the National Anthem will be sung by four high school girls.

Christen Bohrisch will play a melody of patriotic tunes on the piano.

Hedden said although plans are not complete, he is hoping to provide 15 to 20 minutes of 9-11 footage. He said all students at the school will have red, white and blue ribbons made available for them to wear Sept. 11.

The Mammoth Spring, Hardy, Salem, Cherokee Village, Ash Flat and Horseshoe Bend United Methodist Churches are sponsoring a special 'Day of Remembrance' on Sept. 11. The service will be held at 6 p.m. at the Cherokee Village United Methodist Church.

Choirs from the churches of the area will lead the music. Rev. Rex Darling, district superintendent of the Paragould/Jonesboro District of the United Methodist Church will be the speaker. Methodist Church officials said they want to invite everyone to come share with them this time of remembrance.

Mammoth Spring VFW Post 7831 had planned a 9-11 Memorial Service for Sept. 11 but due to the Ministerial Alliance service and others, they decided to postpone their service until possibly Sept. 20. VFW officials said the service is now planned for the city park at Mammoth Spring and they would be honoring veterans, POWs and MIAs among others.

The Oregon County Commission a resolution Aug. 30 pertaining to Sept. 11. The resolution said, "Whereas, on Sept. 11, 2001, America was suddenly and brutally attacked by foreign terrorists, and;

Whereas, these terrorists hijacked and destroyed four civilian aircraft, crashing two of them into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third into the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth into a field in Somerset County, Penn., and

Whereas, thousands of innocent Americans were killed and injured as a result of these attacks. including passengers and crew of the four aircraft, workers in the World Trade Center and in the Pentagon, rescue workers and bystanders, and;

Whereas the cowardly acts were by far the deadliest terrorists attacks ever launched against the United States, and, by targeting symbols of American strength and success, clearly were intended to intimidate our nation and weaken its resolve, and:

Whereas these horrific events have affected all Americans. It is important that we carry on with the regular activities of our lives. Terrorism cannot be allowed to break the spirit of the American people, and the best way to show these cowards that they have truly failed is for the people of the United States and their countries to stand tall and proud,

Therefore be it resolved, that the governing board of Oregon County condemns the cowardly and deadly action of these terrorists, and;

Be it further resolved, that the governing board of Oregon County supports the President of the United States, as he works with his national security team to defend against additional attacks, and to find the perpetrators to bring them to justice, and;

Be it still further resolved, that the governing board of Oregon County recommends to its citizens to support relief efforts by giving blood at the nearest available blood donation centers."